Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1887-04-01
THE DOG LAW


The peverc losses sustained hy many
Of our farmers Of late. in sheep killed by
worthless dogs. has brought about clam
NOR for dog law We hn'e one already
on the statute books. and hescc there is
noneed of.nother The only thing to
done is to compel ito enforcement, and
We will have all the remedy that c4n be
given by law. toward the protection d
this industry from such ravages. Here
is the law:
Sec. IL The boards IT county com
misioners in the several counties Of this
State are hereby empowered and direct
ell to provide for tue ssnual taxation o.
all dogs therein. at rate Of not les.
than one dollar for each do, and two
dolllars for each bitch.
See. 49, The connty commissioners
NJ the respective COUNTIES Of this State
shall. and they are hereby directed to
divide their counties into cOnstabulary
districts. 10 accordance with the number
NJ const4bles in each Of said counties
and shall make it the duty Of said consta-
AIos, in each Of said districts, to annually
-uuncrate and assess at rate prescribed
i.v ssil boards Of county commissioners
Of not less than one dollar for each dog
-ud twO dollars for each bitch, in said
districts, aud collect the tax levied upon
'he SAM. and pay the amount received
Aysaid collection into the county treas.
ury, at such time, as may be hxed upon
BY tho said boards Of county commissions
RI: and the official bond Of any Of said
sous,ablcs, failing to account and make
peturns us aforesaid, shall be held liable
for such default, and all constabes who
shall faithfully account as herein re.
quired may retain commission Of
twenty-five per cent. on the amount
actually collected and paid into the
county Treasury; and the net amount o.
such taxes, after payment of all charges
shall be app led to the credit Of the
school fund Of the respective counties o
the State j,rotiied, however, that every
householder, either owner or renter
shall be entitled to keep one male dog
free Of taxation; but only one dog
however, shall be thus kept free from
taxation, in Or about any house, ire,
rpcclive of the number OF families occu
pying the same
Sec II The neglect of any constabl,
n peform the duties required by the
Ave preceding sections, shall be sufi
cient cause of forfeiture of office, anC
the boards OF county commissioners oil
the several counties Of this State. are
hereby directed to Immediately remove
from Office any constable within theil
respective counties who shall 50 ncglec
70 perform said duties.
Ibis law was passed in 1874, and hai
sincc remained dead letter on the Law
books. Ky its provisions. it will rcadi
BY be seen, that it is the duty Of tn,
county Commissioners to provide for tn,
annual taxing Of all dogs in the Gown
~, and 10 NIX Tue rate Of tlxarIOn. Inel
are also directed 10 divide the count,
into constabulary districts, and to compe
the constablrs of the county to collcc
the tax placed by the board upo,
each dog OF kill the dog This is abou
all the protection a law could afford. Il
would not be just and proper to provide
that no person should keep a dog. Sc
che ouly other thing to be done IL to d.
minish the number by taxation. by
this means the county can be gotten rid o.
all worthless ours, aud the valuable dogs
will do no harm Having a dog law
then the next step is TO enforce it. The
County Commissioners should take no
tlco OF all laws pertaining to their duties
as county guardians, but sometimes
through oversight very important law
escapes them aud it's provisions arc
unobServed, In all probability that
has been the case as regards this law. We
therefore suggest that a committee Of
farmers call upon the board notify them
Of the law and ask its execution, or
the reason why